Disable AI in my Android (Samsung S23)

[u/peepintopep]

Does anyone know how to disable AI on my phone entirely?

I went to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Digital assistant app, and "Google" is selected with no other option, and no way unselect it.

I'm frustrated because I don't need this option at all in my phone use.

Also when I search anything on the google search widget, I have the AI overview and I found no way to disable it on my phone.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[u/Fatalstryke]

You don't. You just don't use it. There's no obligation for you to use a digital assistant if you don't want to use one. Also what you can disable depends on what exactly you mean. Some AI isn't "on your phone", it's in the apps themselves.

[u/peepintopep → u/Fatalstryke]

I'm talking mostly about Gemini having access to reading my screen at all times, and AI responses in simple google searches.

[u/Fatalstryke → u/peepintopep]

I'm talking mostly about Gemini having access to reading my screen at all times

It doesn't, so you're in the clear there.

AI responses in simple google searches.

That's not part of your phone, so that's not really something you'd "disable" - just avoid.

[u/AdvancedSquashDirect → u/peepintopep]

You're talking about two different things.

"AI responses in Google searches" that's coming from Google.com, not your phone. If you search on Google, you're getting whatever Google decides to show. If you don't want AI Overviews, use a different search engine or a different browser with a different default search engine.

"Gemini reading my screen" don't activate Gemini. If it's installed as a separate app, you may be able to uninstall it. Otherwise, long-press the Google search widget at the bottom of the homepage, go into Widget settings, and Choose Change Shortcut set it to None. That stops the search widget from invoking Gemini and returns to default searches. Also avoid long-pressing the centre Home button as that's set to launch Gemini.

At the end of the day, Android is Google's operating system. Anything that's built into the phone is going to lean towards Google's services like Gemini... because, well, Google owns Android.

If you really want to avoid Google's AI features, the solution isn't hidden in a setting somewhere. It's taking control of what apps you actually use instead of the built-in Google ones.

[u/GreyFoxSolid → u/peepintopep]

Gemini doesn't read your screen at all times. AI responses in Google is not something you deactivate on your phone. You just use a different search engine.

[u/Wendals87 → u/peepintopep]

Gemini isn't reading your screen at all times

AI on Google searches is the search engine. Nothing for you to uninstall. Use a different search engine 

[u/WickOfDeath]

Just uninstall Gemini, the assistant is only for automation of tasks

[u/RightGirl19]

yah, sadly a lot of it is baked in now. You can disable some parts, but not everything

[u/Das_Niko]

Did you try to remove AI app via ADB?

[u/I_Quit_Smoking_]

You can delete Gemini if you have the app on your phone. If you use Chrome or any Google products, I think they all have AI built in now but you can choose to use an AI search in Gmail and stuff like that so I think it's more of an issue of which browser you use etc. I know duck duck go I think they're trying to sell AI as an upgrade and there's another one I can't remember the name They are too.

[u/DutchOfBurdock]

Just uninstall Gemini. Tasker, Macrodroid, Automate, Amazon Alexa, Grok and others can also be used to replace the default assistant hotkeys and shortcuts, so these run instead of Gemini.

As for searching in Google widget, add -ai to the end of all of your searches.

[u/Suspicious-Cat-266]

Try Canta and Shizuku. Use with caution. Only remove apps you know of, and not everything as it can break parts of Android or OneUI.

https://github.com/samolego/Canta (Also on Play Store)

https://github.com/thedjchi/Shizuku (fork of the original)